We have our work cut out for us in the coming years. The threats to critical affordable and supportive housing programs that serve the poorest households and those with disabilities are real and significant. Become involved in planning the 2018 Congressional Reception!

NJCounts 2019

All twenty-one New Jersey Counties will be counting individuals and families who were homeless – both sheltered and un-sheltered - on the night of Wednesday January 23, 2019.This annual census is conducted by networks of organizations, agencies and others that plan community efforts to end homelessness and is coordinated by Monarch Housing on the statewide level.

The goal of the second Annual Homeless Sabbath is to engage as many congregations of all faiths to include readings in their service(s) held on December 15th, 16th and 17th, 2017, at their respective house of worship. Click here to register online to participate.

Please reach out to your elected officials in Congress today and ask them to:

Add measures to activate the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP)

Remove Section 1211, which doubles-down on FEMA’s failed experiment from the 2017 disasters; and

Remove Section 1210, which eliminates tools used to target resources to households with the greatest needs.

Click here for the contact information for your member of congress in New Jersey’s delegation.

The FAA bill provides an early infusion of $1.7 billion in Community Development Block Grant — Disaster Recovery funds for communities impacted by Hurricane Florence — with the promise of a larger disaster recovery supplemental bill at a later date — improvements are needed to ensure that low income survivors have the stable, affordable homes they need to get back on their feet.

The National Low Income Housing Coalition (NLIHC) applauds Congress’s efforts to respond quickly. But the NLIHC is concerned that the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) re-authorization bill misses an opportunity to address the housing needs of low income disaster survivors of Hurricane Florence and includes some harmful disaster-related provisions.

It is critical that housing organizations, advocates, and disaster survivors contact their Representatives and Senators today to ensure that the bill meets the needs of low income survivors of Hurricane Florence.

The FAA bill could be improved by:

Adding measures to activate the Disaster Housing Assistance Program (DHAP). One of the top priorities after a disaster to ensure that all displaced families have a safe, accessible, and affordable place to live while they recover. DHAP provides survivors with direct rental assistance and case management services to help them get back on their feet.

While DHAP was used successfully after Hurricane Katrina, Gustav, and Ike and Superstorm Sandy, FEMA refuses to make this resource available to help disaster survivor who face the greatest barriers to recovery.

Removing Section 1211, which doubles-down on FEMA’s failed experiment from the 2017 disasters. Section 1211 of the FAA bill authorizes states to administer disaster housing assistance programs. The provision, however, does not provide basic oversight and safeguards to ensure that the housing needs of disaster survivors are met.

For this reason, we are concerned that Section 1211 could lead to a repeat of the failures of the 2017 disaster recovery effort — as cited in a new report from the Government Accountability Office.

Removing Section 1210, which eliminates tools used to target resources to households with the greatest needs. While the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) program is one of the only recovery tools available to low and moderate income survivors, this vital resource frequently has been diverted away from the people and communities that face the greatest recovery needs and for whom the program was designed to serve.

Section 1211 would eliminate a key tool used by federal agencies to target resources where they are needed most, reducing the overall impact of federal recovery funds.

Participate in Homeless Persons Memorial Day Vigil – attend the vigil and help remember our neighbors who died due to lack of housing and supportive services;

Engage – talk to your family, your neighbors, your co-workers and elected officials about homelessness in Union County and how we need to work together to end homelessness. To achieve that goal, we need to change the conversation and focus on the needs of our neighbors; and

Form a homeless ministry - Begin discussions that focus on what more your congregation can do to end homelessness.